Key Events (10)
The US conducted military operations against an Iranian-flagged oil tanker as President Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran to accept a deal to end the ongoing war or face intensified bombing campaigns at 'much higher level and intensity.' Trump simultaneously announced a pause on 'Project Freedom,' the effort to guide stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while stating the waterway would be 'open to all' if Iran accepts a deal.
Trump-backed Republican candidates achieved significant victories in Indiana primary elections, with at least five Trump-endorsed challengers defeating incumbent state lawmakers who had resisted his redistricting demands. The results demonstrate Trump's continued influence over the Republican Party base despite lower overall approval ratings.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before a House committee investigating his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein in the years after 2008. Democrats sharply criticized his testimony, calling it 'dishonest' and calling for his resignation.
The US administration canceled tourist visas for board members of Costa Rica's leading newspaper La Nación, which is critical of a Trump ally. The newspaper characterized the action as an 'indirect attack on press freedom.'
Pope Leo publicly rejected claims that he supports nuclear weapons after President Trump accused him of 'endangering a lot of Catholics' with his stance on the Iran war, highlighting tensions between the administration and the Vatican.
A new AP-NORC poll found that approximately 6 in 10 U.S. adults believe the country is no longer a great place for immigrants, though most said it used to be. The survey reflects shifting perceptions of immigration under Trump's administration policies.
Oil prices fell sharply as Trump signaled potential resolution of the Iran conflict and promised the Strait of Hormuz would reopen if Iran accepts a deal. Global markets rallied on hopes for renewed access to a critical shipping lane.
Former special counsel Jack Smith accused the Justice Department of being 'corrupted' by Trump and his allies, stating at a private Washington event that department leaders were targeting people for prosecution to please and impress the president.
The Department of Justice closed the San Francisco immigration court, a move critics said would worsen the already severe case backlog. The Trump administration justified the closure as 'cost effective,' while immigration attorneys warned it would create 'a lot of chaos.'
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump-backed biotech entrepreneur, won the Ohio GOP gubernatorial primary, setting up a competitive general election race against Democrat Amy Acton in November.